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The Philadelphia InquirerJuly 2, 2009President Obama extended an olive branch to gay-rights activists last week who are upset that he hadn't moved fast enough on issues important to them. Obama campaigned on a promise to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, the federal law that allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, and to overturn the military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule, which bars gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military. Obama told the gay and lesbian audience he invited to the White House to mark the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion to judge him not by the "promises I've made, but by the promises that my administration keeps." [Link]

NPR.orgJuly 6, 2009During the campaign, Obama said all the right things (well, almost all—like most national politicians, he wouldn't endorse marriage equality). He invoked the importance of winning "equality" and "dignity" and "respect" for gays and lesbians. Now he is president, and one of the perks of being president is that you get to lead. But, when it comes to gay issues, leading does not seem to interest this White House. [Link]

USA TodayJuly 5, 2009The Census Bureau faces logistical challenges next year in classifying legally married same-sex couples as married. The agency has said that the 2010 Census will report the number of married same-sex couples for the first time, a decision that thrills gay-rights advocates. It may seem like a simple change, but adjusting how the Census tallies people is not a simple matter, requiring everything from redesigning computer programs to testing accuracy. Today, six states allow same-sex marriage. Last month, the Obama administration extended some job benefits to gay partners of federal workers and said it wants to ensure that same-sex couples "are accurately reflected in Census reports." [Link]

Out For Justice (NCLR Blog)June 30, 2009Kate Kendell, Esq. of The National Center For Lesbian Rights talks about her whirlwind trip to Washington D.C. with her 13-year-0ld son, Julian, to attend President Obama's LGBT reception in the East Room of the White House. "It was clear to me that the President believes in full equality as a core value, a human value. That fact is reassuring. It is also clear that we as a community must continue a relentless drumbeat, insisting that the President act NOW to do all he can to make that commitment to equality a reality." [Link]

The New York TimesJune 27, 2009It’s a press cliché that “gay supporters” are disappointed with Obama - we should all be. Gay Americans aren’t just another political special interest group. They are Americans who are actively discriminated against by federal laws. If the president is to properly honor the memory of Stonewall, he should get up to speed on what happened there 40 years ago, when courageous kids who had nothing, not even a public acknowledgment of their existence, stood up to make history happen in the least likely of places. [Link]

AMERICAblogJune 29, 2009Congress is in recess, so Rep. Polis was in his district Monday, not at the White House party. For those who don't know him yet, Polis is an openly gay, first-term Democrat from Colorado. Chuck Todd interviewed Polis on Hardball about Obama and gay issues. I found the DOMA segment particularly interesting. Polis made it quite clear that the problem was the DOMA brief. Polis explained, as we and many others have explained, that the Obama administration didn't have to defend the law and certainly didn't have to respond in the way they did:

New York Daily NewsJune 29, 2009Gay-rights advocates aren't exactly thrilled with what they feel is slow progress by the Obama administration on issues they say are important to the gay community. "The measures don't address the root cause of the hardships and injustices facing gay couples and gay families, which is the denial of freedom to marry," says Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, a gay and non-gay partnership for marriage equality and the author of "Why Marriage Matters." "The Obama administration and Congress must act to remove the barriers that gay Americans encounter in trying to participate equally in our society." [Link]

Law Dork, 2.0June 29, 2009The President of the United States, the leader of the free world, spent 20 minutes this afternoon telling the world that he views Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell as harmful to national security, that he is calling on Congress to repeal the “so-called” — his words — Defense of Marriage Act, and that he wants a fully inclusive ENDA and hate crimes bills on his desk. In all, I think the President used today well to acknowledge our impatience while not diminishing it, saying, “It’s not for me to tell you to be patient.” The President clearly recommitted himself and his Administration to the campaign promises he made to us. Yes, I want to see more action, and, sure, there is room for improvement — particularly in regards to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell — but I am glad to hear directly from our President that he realizes our struggle and wants to work with us — and use his role in the White House — to advance LGBT equality. [Link]

The White House Briefing RoomJune 29, 2009Today's event is more than just a reception honoring LGBT Pride month. It is an opportunity for the Administration to provide the world with a snap shot of the real heroes across the country that do the day-to-day work fighting for equality. People like State Representative Patricia Todd in Alabama to Sheriff Lupe Valdez in Dallas, and many other local LGBT elected officials that will be here today. And it’s people – ordinary families – that by simply living their lives openly are changing hearts and minds. It is also an opportunity to welcome the people upon whom shoulders we stand, people like Frank Kameny, as well as Phil Wilson, Bishop Robinson and Ambassador Hormel, and those who stood up to bigotry at Stonewall. We have a lot of work ahead of us. We will work together to pass Hate Crimes and ENDA and to end DADT and DOMA, but today is an opportunity to celebrate who we are and affirm who we are as Americans. [Link]